Missed Connections Read Online Free PDF Page A

along in a relationship that isn't really satisfying anymore. I want to be with you. Assuming Patrick survived the disaster and makes it home safely, I'm going to break up with him. I'll do it as nicely as possible. I don't want to hurt his feelings any more than I have to just by ending the relationship. He doesn't deserve to be hurt unnecessarily. He's done nothing to deserve that. But my future is with you—if we have a future."
    "Of course we have a future," Connor said, speaking with more conviction than he felt, yet hoping with all his heart that the words were true. He had more reason now than ever to want to live. Once again he embraced Paul and held him, soothing and gentling him with his hands, stroking his back and his arms.
    The sun was fully out now, the fog completely gone, and they went searching for berries for their lunch. After they'd eaten their fill, Connor suggested they lie on the tiny strip of beach and soak up some rays. "I sure don't feel like swimming," he added with a laugh. "I've had enough of the water to last me for a while. But I wouldn't mind working on my tan."
    "We don't have any suntan lotion," Paul pointed out.
    "We each have a good base tan," Connor replied. "I think we can lie in the sun for a while without burning to a crisp."
    "You sure?" asked Paul skeptically.
    "I think so," Connor replied.
    Just when they'd stripped off their clothes and settled down on the sand, a boat appeared on the horizon. Paul scrambled to his feet and began wildly waving his shirt.
    "Save your energy. They're too far away to see you," Connor advised. "Wait till they get closer."
    But the boat never did get closer. It crossed from the left to the right without veering in their direction. Paul sank down again, obviously disheartened, but Connor felt cheered by the event. "See? There are boats out there—probably searching for survivors. They'll find us eventually," he said comfortingly. "Meanwhile lie down and let's take advantage of the sunshine. It's like getting an extra day of vacation!"
    "How can you be so cheerful?" Paul marveled.
    "It's how I keep my spirits afloat," Connor answered.
    "I like it. One more thing to admire and enjoy about you," said Paul, making an imaginary tally mark in the air. Connor laughed. Then Paul hesitantly lay down on the sand beside him. "What if a boat passes by and we don't see it because we're lying here with our eyes closed?" he worried aloud.
    "Boats don't move that fast. If we open our eyes every few minutes and look out over the water, we'll see any boat that's nearby. And if it's not nearby, they won't see us anyhow."
    What Connor said seemed to make sense to Paul, as he slowly settled back on the sand, although he kept opening his eyes and raising his head to scan the waters for any sign of a vessel. After he'd done this ten or so times, Connor said, "You do a very good imitation of a jack-in-the-box, but relax. You don't have to check for boats quite that often. Besides, I'm watching, too."
    As they lay there, they exchanged information about themselves. Paul asked Connor about his friends back home in the city, and he told Connor about his own friends. They talked about their respective hobbies and interests, their childhoods, what it was like to come out as gay, and what their deepest hopes for the future were. Paul regaled Connor with a few funny stories that had taken place in the course of his work as a jewelry salesman, and although Connor couldn't think of any equally funny stories from his work, he did remember a few particularly interesting incidents and held Paul's attention with those.
    The day passed, and in a preponderance of caution they sought shelter from the sun after a couple of hours of sunbathing and continued their storytelling under a tree.
    "We have no shelter if it rains," Paul pointed out practically.
    "Let's hope it doesn't," Connor replied.
    Since it was summer, the sunset was late, but eventually the sun went down, leaving the pair in